Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-08-25
THE TIMES.
PLEASURE.


different in our opinions, our ideas are
90 changed with the influences of our
education and surroundings that it is
almost impossible to give a correct def
milton of the word "plcasure. The
old saying, "What is one mans meat
is another mans poison is peculiarly
applicable to this subject.
Every age differs in its enjoyments.
The child of seven sees no higher pleas
ure than dolls tea party, or driving a
dog harnessed to cart. At twice that
age, exercises of skill of athletic sports,
dancing and the like are perhaps as at
tractive sports as any. At twenty-one
the whole range of pleasures the dra-
ma, the concert, art, literature, domes-
tic enjoyments and travel, open up be-
fore delighted eyes, their stores OF al
most endles fascination.
According to the dictates of our nat
ural taste, or cultivated opinions, we
derive from each or all of that peculiar
influence which gives to the mind the
emotion which we designate pleasure.
Although the world is literally packed
and crammed with pleasure for those
who are capable of perceiving it, there
are many who continually grumble
about the lack and dearth ofsit in their
lives. They allow the discomforts and
sorrows to SO overwhelm them, crush
and stamp out the faculty of enjoying,
and they conclude there is nothing to
enjoy. Yet they see about them many
who are in no better circumstances than
themselves, going through life with
smiles which seems to speak of happi-
ness within and keen appreciation Of
all enjoyment, without. There are
probably no griefs or vexations which
are still so light as to permit the suf-
fers to live under them, which may not
be made endurable by the determine
ton to look on the bright SIDE.
The man that is at the point of stern
business crisis when all his worldly
goods depends upon "the hazard of a
de- may still be comparatively happy
If within his soul lies rooted that honor
which makes him no less true though
ruined, and that faith which makes him
more steadfast in the midst of wreck.
The character built upon solid moral
foundations, cannot but find pleasure
even in the very bitterness of pain, for
the elements of it rests upon the very
center of his being. We rule our lives,
in measure, ourselves. We can make
gay and sunny, or somber and gloomy,
by the manner in which we govern our
tempers, and exercise our will. The
ordinary vexations of life may be met
with so courageous spirit that people
watching us shall wonder how we so
easily surmount difficulties. The over
coming brings its own pleasure, and
there is probably no real joy in the
world like the steady, persistent, active
pursuit of some object or ambition.
Many people imagine that possession
means pleasure. They, being poor in
purse, see we'll fed, well housed peo-
pie all about them, and feel that if they
could but attain to similar position and
wealth they should be perfectly happy.
It must be granted that the possession
of all the beautiful objects, the power
to travel, the opportunities for educa-
ton, the advantages of refined society
all bring their respective attractions. =
We know it is a worthy and noble ambi
ton to gain such for ourselves, but we
also know that uneaslness, the discon.
tent, the grumbling, the criticising and
banished, that the real pleasure We
should experience from them would moi
be worth the striving. Many of us take
no thought of the universal pleasures.
We see only the limited and dependent
charms of life. Our eyes are open tt
al that man withholds, and shut to al
that nature so freely gives. We have
the sunshine and the birds; the grass
and stars the broad prairies and the
flowers, the rivers and the forests, shed
ding beauty and loneliness from every
sound, color and motion. We long FOL
gas, electric hight and piano we de
sire carpets and frescoes We prefer
big houses and the things we have not
The simplicity of living. which is thu
only state in which we may know tn,
full value of the sweetness and grand
eur Of natueal pleasure, is too Otter
thrust aside by the desire for that lux
urious method of existence which find,
enjoyment only in the extreme and un